Volkswagen SP2 treasure trove found in Brazil

A huge warehouse full of rare Volkswagen sports cars has been revealed in Sao
Paulo, Brazil.

An anonymous collector is selling off his collection of 1970s VW SP2s after finally giving up any hope of restoring the vehicles.

The treasure trove contains 16 complete and seven disassembled SP2s, as well as a mixture of other makes and models with then disassembled cars stacked on their ends against one of the walls of the garage.

The SP2 was exclusively manufactured by Volkswagen do Brazil as a replacement for the ageing and discontinued Karmann Ghia TC.

The Brazilian market was closed for imports during the 1970s so the only sports car officially made in Brazil was the Karmann which was a commercial failure.

Volkswagen do Brazil therefore decided to commission what they called 'Project X' in 1969 under the auspices of designer Mr Schiemann and supported by the CEO of the subsidiary and later the entire company Rudolf Leiding.

A prototype was presented in 1971 fair and the car went on sale a year later.

The SP2 was moderately successful but with a 1.7 litre engine producing just 75bhp the car was sheep in wolf's clothing. (People at the time were convinced that 'SP2' meant 'Sem Potência' - 'Without Power' in Portuguese. The name is actually an abbreviation of 'Sao Paulo').

In the end 10,205 were built before production was stopped after four years in 1976. A total of 670 were exported with 155 going to Nigeria and only one going to Portugal.

Besides the SP2s, the seller has a 1972 Karmann Ghia TC, a Lancia, a Fiat 128, an Avallone Formula VW and a rare 1974 VW 6 door Kombi van.